Special Exhibition 'Joseon's Records and Culture, Passed Down Through the Ages'

Busan Museum and the National Palace Museum of Korea will jointly hold a special exhibition titled "Joseon's Records and Culture, Passed Down Through the Ages" from Tuesday through Aug. 30, commemorating the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session being held in Busan this year.

The exhibition introduces Joseon royal documentary heritage inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, including the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat), the Ilseongnok (Records of Daily Reflections), the Joseon royal protocols known as uigwe, royal seals and investiture books of the Joseon court, and records of the Joseon Tongsinsa diplomatic missions to Japan. Alongside this, 166 items comprising 195 artifacts — national treasures and treasures that illustrate the authority and culture of the Joseon royal court — will be on display, including portraits of Kings Yeongjo and Cheoljong, the Donggwoldo (a painting of the eastern palace complex), a blue-and-white porcelain jar decorated with landscape and bird-and-flower motifs, and a white porcelain moon jar.

The exhibition is organized into three parts, tracing Joseon's record-keeping systems, royal culture, and the history of foreign exchange through Dongnaebu (present-day Busan). Part 1, "Joseon, a Nation of Records," examines how Joseon documented and preserved state affairs and royal ceremonies. Part 2, "Symbols and Refinement of the Joseon Court," presents artifacts that embody the authority and artistic sophistication of the royal household. Part 3, "Dongnaebu, Joseon's Window to the World," highlights the historical significance of Dongnaebu's amicable relations with Japan following the Imjin War and traces the history of peaceful exchange through the Joseon Tongsinsa records.

A highlight of the exhibition is the first-ever simultaneous public display of all four archival editions of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty — the Jeongjoksan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan and Jeoksangsan copies. The Annals chronicle 472 years of history across 25 reigns, from King Taejo to King Cheoljong. Joseon distributed the records among multiple archives to guard against war and fire, and the joint display offers visitors a comprehensive look at the history of how the Annals were compiled and preserved. However, the Taebaeksan copy will be on view only through Aug. 2, so visitors wishing to see all four editions together must come before that date.

Admission is free and the museum is closed every Monday. An exception applies on Aug. 17, a substitute public holiday, when the museum will open as normal; it will instead close the following day, Aug. 18. During the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, the museum will hold evening openings until 9 p.m. on four days: July 17, 18, 24 and 25.

Meanwhile, the museum's outdoor garden will host "Re:moon," an outdoor installation project by contemporary artist Han Won-seok linked to the special exhibition, through Aug. 30; the garden will be open daily until 10 p.m. Busan Museum Director Jeong Eun-woo said she hoped the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan would help bring the value and excellence of Korea's heritage to the attention of the world.

kaf2002@heraldcorp.com